Headboards for bedsteads



3 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed June 16,. 1967 Dec. 9, 1969 o. M. ENRIG'H HEADBOARDS FOR BEDSTEADS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmv P mm 3m V .M 0 WM 4 M W M D Filed June 16, 1967 Deb. '9; .1969 n. M. ENRIGHT 3,482,271

HEADBOARDS FOR BEDSTE-ADS Filed June 16. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 DesmondM'c/me/ fur/9k? ATTORNEYS United States Patent U.S. Cl. -327 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A headboard for bedstead having a panel let into a recess in the headboard and pivoted thereto for forming a backrest for a person sitting up in bed.

This invention relates to improvements in headboards for bedsteads.

The object of the invention is the provision of a support in a headboard for the back of a sleeper when sitting up in bed.

The invention comprises a headboard in which a panel or panels are let into the headboard and affixed thereto by hinge pins engaging bearing brackets on the headboard and by stays and arms pivoted to the headboard, means being provided for returning the panels from the inclined to the vertical position.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. g

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a headboard showing the panels in the inclined position.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of a panel and headboard partly broken away to a larger scale.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the headboard and panel showing the panel in a vertical position.

FIG. 4 is a similar section showing the panel in the inclined position.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic elevations showing mechanism for releasing the panel from the inclined position.

A headboard A for a bed is formed with a panel B capable of lying flush with the front surface of the headboard or of assuming an inclined position to support the back of the sleeper when sitting up in bed.

The panel B is afiixed to the headboard by hinge pins b extending horizontally from bearing brackets b on the sides of the recess in the headboard A in which the panel B is mounted and entering slots b in angle brackets b afiixed to the back of the panel.

A substantially U-shaped stay C is pivoted to the panel B on hinge pins c intermediate the top and bottom thereof and to bottom of the headboard on pivots :2 adjacent to the bottom of the recess therein at each side thereof. A substantially U-shaped arm C is also pivoted on the pivots c for the stays at each side of the panel B with the free end of one or both side arms c of arm C being connected by a chain, cord or the like d to a control member D pivoted to the rear of the headboard and extending through a slot therein to the front of the headboard to provide an operating lever d for releasing the panel B from the inclined position.

The stays C and the arms 0 at each side of the panel B may be integral parallel side arms of U-shaped members. A batten A is mounted horizontally of the headboard A on the rear side and spaced therefrom to support a rail a to accommodate arms C when the panel B is vertical, the batten A engaging the upper ends of supports A by which the headboard A is affixed to the bed* stead or to a wall in front of which a bed is placed. The rail a is carried on the lower front surface of the batten A to form a stop for the free ends of the arms 0 when 3,482,271 Patented Dec. 9, 1969 the panel B is in the inclined position (FIGS. 4 and 5).

The control member D is aflixed to one of the pins b which is extended outwardly from the bearing bracket b the opposite end of the pin b being extruded inwardly of the angle bracket b and carrying a lever plate d to which one end of the chain d is affixed. A spring d extends between the plate d and one of the hinge pins c in which the stay C and arms 0 are pivoted.

When assuming the inclined position the free end of the arms 0 transversely vertically downwardly by gravity until the ends rests on the rail a and the batten A then forms a stop to hold the arms 0 in an rigid position until released by upward pull of the chain d on operation of the control member D. On the backrest returning to a vertical position the stays C and arms c reassume a vertical position parallel to the headboard thus ensuring that the stays C and arms c do not extend rearwardly beyond the batten A In use the panel B is brought into the inclined position by pressure on the upper end thereof which causes the slot b to travel over hinge pin b from the position shown in FIG. 3 to that shown in FIG. 4, and the stays C and arms 0 to pivot until the free ends of the arms c rest on the rail a (FIG. 4). The panel B is then in position to support the back of a person sitting up in bed.

To return the panel B to the vertical position the operating lever d of the control member D is moved from the position shown in FIG. 5 to that shown in FIG. 6. The pivoting of the member D rotates the hinge pin b and the plate d which through the chain at lifts the arms 0 and stretches the spring d which causes the stays C and the arms 0 to return to the position shown in FIG. 3.

The headboard A may be provided in known manner with wings supporting a shelf or cupboard.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a bedstead headboard formed with a recess, a panel adapted to be moved between a first substantially vertical position wherein it is disposed within said recess and a forwardly inclined position to support a patient, means providing a flexible pivot connection between the panel and headboard, a stay pivoted at opposite ends on said panel and on said headboard near the lower end of said recess, an arm pivoted on said panel and projecting into said recess, stop means on said headboard at the back of said recess for engagement with said arm for holding said panel in said forwardly inclined position with respect to said headboard recess, and control means operated from the front of said headboard for releasing said arm from said stop means to permit said panel to move into said recess.

2. In the combination defined in claim 1, said last means comprising a pivoted lever having a resilient connection with said arm and a manual operator projecting through said bedstead within reach of said patient.

3. In the combination defined in claim 1, said arm and stay swinging into substantially vertical alignment at the back of said recess when said panel is fully within the recess.

4. In a headboard assembly for bedsteads, an upright headboard having a recess, a panel adapted to be let into said recess, bearing brackets intermediate the top and bottom of said panel, hinge pins on the headboard to engage in said brackets, stays pivoted upon said panel at each side thereof and to the headboard at the lower edge of said recess, the pivots between the stays and panel comprising pivot pins on said panel, arms pivoted on said pivot pins, a rail on the back of said headboard for engagement by the free ends of said arms when the panel is in an inclined position relative to the headboard, and means for returning said panel from said inclined position to a substantially vertical position within the headboard recess, said stays and arms each being integral parts of substantially U-shaped members.

5. In the headboard assembly defined in claim 4, a pivot on which said control member is mounted, a rigid member depending from said control member, and a flexible motion transmitting element connecting said rigid member to the free ends of said arms.

6. In a headboard assembly for bedsteads, an upright headboard having a recess, a panel adapted to be let into said recess, bearing brackets intermediate the top and bottom of said panel, hinge pins on the headboard to engage in said brackets, stays pivoted upon said panel at each side thereof and to the headboard at the lower edge of said recess, the pivots between the stays and panel comprising pivot pins on said panel, arms pivoted on said pivot pins, a rail on the back of said headboard for engagement by the free ends of said arms when the panel is in an inclined position relative to the headboard, and means for returning said panel from said inclined position to a substantially vertical position within the headboard recess, said means for returning the panel from the inclined to the vertical position comprising a movable control member, a lever rigid with said control member and extending through a slot in the headboard, and means for connecting the control member to said arms".

7. In a headboard assembly for bedsteads, an upright headboard having a recess, a panel adapted to be let into said recess, bearing brackets intermediate the top and bottom of said panel, hinge pins on the headboard to engage in said brackets, stays pivoted upon said panel at each side thereof and to the headboard at the lower edge of said recess, the pivots between the stays and panel comprising pivot pins on said panel, arms pivoted on said pivot pins, a rail on the back of said headboard for engagement by the free ends of said arms when the panel is in an inclined position relative to the headboard, means for returning said panel from said inclined position to a substantially vertical position within the headboard recess, and a transverse batten on the back of said headboard at said recess and on which said rail is mounted, said stays and arms being accommodated at the back of said recess forwardly of saidbatten when the panel is within said recess, and said batten and rail acting as stop means for said arms when the panel is in said inclined position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/ 1951 Sprunger 5327 4/ 1960 Schittmann 5327 

